since i'm an atheist shouldn't i not be taking catholic relgion class?

Question

my whole family is atheists and i got sent to a catholic skool cuz my old skool closed down and its the nearest one from my house.
its grade K-8 and i'm in 7 and shouldn't i not be taking a catholic region class?
even though i never participate in prayers and skip mass and come to school late on mass days i still feel weird about it.

even though i'm an atheist i still respect the catholic and christian relgion though.
i'm just afraid the school will try to make me be catholic and i'm really serious about being an athiest

Answer 1

Maybe you are there for a reason...nothing happens by mistake.

Answer 2

It's a private school, so you have to play by their rules.

I will note that the class cannot make you Catholic. That decision is yours and yours alone. Perhaps the class will actually make sense to you, and you'll convert. If that's the case, then it's at your own speed. Most atheists can see through the flaws of religion classes, so they remain atheists.

And it gives you some insight to how Catholics feel the way they feel. If someone tries to convert you later on in life, then you have an aresenal of counter-arguments.

In a public school, some theists are protesting that they have to learn about evolution. The parents are making the choice to sacrifice their academic progression by pulling them out of the program. This can be done with public schools, which are dictated by the whim of the people. A private school is different. You can choose to not take the religion class, but that choice is often concomitant with you no longer attending that school.

Like math, this may be a class where you have to "grin and bear it." Unlike math, you may truly learn some things you'll never use in your lifetime. At least you'll be able to answer a few more questions in Trivial Pursuit.

Answer 3

I don't think you should be bothered by it or worry about it. People are too offended in this world and are too quick to offend others. I have studied many religions without converting to them and I attended a Catholic school without being Catholic. I think you should view it as an opportunity to become educated about what others believe and how it effects society. The most important thing is your education anyway, which you should be focusing on. Just don't do anything that would compromise your beliefs. As long as you show respect to others they will return the respect. Good luck.

Answer 4

Even though you are Atheist it is still a good thing to become educated about other religions. That way, you have a better argument or debate against those who oppose you. When you know more about what you do not believe, you can help yourself and others better understand what you do believe. In order to know and understand your beliefs, you need to know and understand what you do not believe. Just look at it as a learning experience and make the best of it. I am agnostic and went to Catholic School as well.

Answer 5

You don't have to believe but at least be open-minded enough to listen and learn. Maybe you will find interesting things about the religion that you've never heard of before. Maybe you will still think that it's all lies and still choose to not believe in God's existence. Don't look at this as a way for them to 'convert' you. Just think of it as another class where you learn about something. It's be like taking a world religion class to learn about other cultures and faiths, or a Greek mythology class to learn about the ancient Greek culture and such. That what I suggest you to do. I went to Catholic school for 8 years (I'm Catholic) but we have 2 atheists, 1 Lutheran and 1 Baptist kids in our class. They all took the bible study course and world religion courses and learned alot and got good grades but they stayed the way they were to being with. It's just a learning experience. Good luck!

Answer 6

You're in a Catholic School. If it's a required course then you have to take it. Knowledge is never a bod thing. Are you afraid of what you might learn in the class?

Answer 7

IT's natural to feel weird about it. You're surrounded by people that believe one thing and you believe another.

Don't be ashamed of your beliefs, but be respectful. It sounds like you're a respectful person already. If you feel strongly that you have something to say to the class, say it in the kindest way you can. Think about it beforehand and make sure you're being non-offensive though.

You've nothing to be ashamed of. Hang in there!

Answer 8

It's difficult going to a Catholic school as any variety of non-Catholic, I know. But I don't think you have anything to worry about in terms of being exposed to other ideas. If your beliefs don't stand up to exposure to other ideas, then they couldn't have been based in a very strong foundation.

Answer 9

Is it really going to hurt you, attending the class, if you don't believe thats your choice, but thats a dumb reason not to go, your cheating your self out of a education, I don't believe in most of the things they told me in science class, but I went anyways, at least sometimes, i was a very bad student, but I went, and graduated, just go, I wont hurt you. Let the teacher know your views

Answer 10

Theres no fear in taking a class. You may learn something about another culture. I'm not athiest, I'm Wiccan. I actually enjoy reading and learning about other religions.

Answer 11

By that logic, you shouldn't take a math class unless you're a mathematician.

Or a history class unless you're a historian.

Etc.

Nothing wrong in being exposed to another point of view, is there?